Consistency regulator



July 14, 1936. o. M. NlCKERSON 2,047,592

CONSISTENCY REGULATOR Filed Aug. 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 1936- o. M. NICKERSON 2,047,592

CONS I STENCY REGULATOR Filed Aug. 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 awe/whoa 0.- N/C/fERSO/V dwQ/LLZ Patented July 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONSIS'IILJICYv REGULATOR Oscar M. Nickel-son, Millinoclret, Maine Application August 29, 1932, Serial No'. 630,980

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a regulator and more particularly to a'regulator especially adapted to regulate the consistency of ground wood, sulphite and paper machine stock in general.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an electrically operated regulator whichwill control and actuate a motor operated valve for increasing or decreasing the water supply or of. a

particular ingredient to the pulp or the like and consequently maintain ,a predetermined consistency at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide in connection with the regulator an indicating meter having its scale graduated in percent of consistency so that the consistency of the stock may be obtained at a glance.

, the other side of the stock directly opposite the photoelectric cell in such a manner that the ray of light from the source of light will pass through the stock on to the photoelectric cell. The photoelectric cell is electrically connected in circuit. If so desired it is connected-with an amplifier and a relay which is adapted to control a motor actuated valve which valve upon being actuated by the relay increases or decreases the supply of a particular ingredient to the stock so as to mailitain the stock at a predetermined consistency.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this invention in which like numerals represent corresponding parts throughout the same, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical view illustrating the electrical circuit of. the regulator and the man-- ner in which the photoelectric cell and incandescent bulb are arranged with respect to the stock, the consistency of which is desired to be regulated, and

Fig. 2 is a modified form of the invention partly in section, illustrating the manner in which the photoelectric cell may be used in connection with a stock pulp tank. a

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 4 generally designates a piece of stock of any-character such as ground wood, sulphite or paper stock in general, which is this being contingent upon the in the process of being manufactured and'the consistency of which is desired to be maintained at a predetermined percent. Disposed adjacent and above the stockA is an incandescent bulb 6 which is supplied with electrical energy through the conductors 8 and I connected to a source of electrical supply l2 and I4. Arranged on the other side of. the stock 4 and directly opposite the source of. light 6 is a photoelectric cell 1 in such a manner that the rays of light from the light 10 source 6 will pass through the stock on to the cell.

The photoelectric cell 1 is connected to a relay it through an amplifying tube l8. The amplifying tube comprises an evacuated envelope 20 enclosing the usual plate, grid and filament. The filament in the usual manner is supplied with a source of electrical supply 22 through conductors 24 and 26 and a resistance 28.

One terminal of the source of electrical supply 22 is connected through conductor 30 to a source of electrical supply 32 and the other terminal of'the source of supply 32 is connected to a resistance 34 through conductor 36 to the grid of the amplifier. One terminal of the photoelectric cell 1 is connected by conductor 38 to the grid of the amplifier and the other terminal of the cell 1 is connected by means 01. conductor 40 to batteries 42 and 44 which are connected to one side of the filament of the amplifier. The plate of the amplifier is connected through conductor 48 to one terminal of the winding of the relay and the other terminal of the winding is connected to conductor 40 through the consistency meter 50 by means of conductors 52 and 54. The

consistency meter 50 is calibrated and the scale is such that it will 'give readings in percent "of consistency of the stock traveling between the incandescent light source and the photoelectric cell to the end that the consistency of the stock passing therebetween may be determined at a glance.

The winding of the relay IS in the usual manner is wound around a soft iron core 56 and has associated therewith a pivotally mounted armature 58. In the usual manner the reversible. motor BI is supplied with a source of electrical supply through the medium of the battery or other source 59 by means of the electrical con- 4 tacts 66 and 64 which are associated with the armature 58. Obviously, upon movement of the armature 58 into contacting relationship with either pairs of electrical contacts 66 or 64 the motor will move in one direction or the other, energization of the coil l6.

particular ingredient to the stock. It will thus be seen that the stock can be maintained at any predetermined consistency and the consistency can be ascertained at a glance at the meter which is connected in the electrical circuit.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the light source such as an incandescent bulb 92 and its associated photoelectric cell is arranged within a stock tank. The stock tank I8 as illustrated is of rectangular formation and if so desired may be of any other shape and is constructed of metal or the like and is provided with a stock inlet conduit 88 and a stock outlet conduit 82 disposed in the bottom 88 thereof. Arranged within the tank 18 is a rectangular shaped compartment 84 which is spaced from the bottom 88 of the tank to provide a conduit through which the stock may pass from the conduit 88 into the outlet 82. I8 is provided with a window 98 and disposed directly above in the bottom of the compartment 84 is another window 88.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 arranged in the compartment 84 is a source of light which consists of an incandescent bulb disposed within an electrical socket 81 aflixed to one end of a depending conduit 88 which projects through the upper portion 85 of the compartment. A reflector 94 is firmly secured to the socket 81 and the incandescent bulb 92 is supplied with an electrical source of supply through conductors 8| and 83 which are electrically connected to a source of supply I5 and TI. The depending conduit 98 extends into the compartment as illustrated so that the incandescent bulb is disposed directly above the window 88 so that the rays of light therefrom may pass through the window 88 the stock flowing through the stock tank, and the window 98 in the bottom of the stock tank on to the photoelectric cell I88 which is arranged in the compartment 98 secured to the bottom of the tank.

The bottom 88 of the tank One terminal of the photoelectric cell is connected by means of conductor I82 to one terminal of the winding I 84 of the relay I88. The other terminal of the photoelectric cell is connected by conductor I88 to one terminal of the 5 electrical supply H8 and the other terminal of the source of electric supply H8 is connected by means of conductor 2 to the other terminal of the winding I84.

The winding I84 in the same manner as previously described with respect to the winding I 8 in Fig. 1 controls the operation of a reversible motor.

The operation of the device is the same as described with respect to Fig. 1 in that the source 15 of light passing through the stock on to the photoelectric cell controls the actuation of the armature II8 by the solenoid I84 to effect the operation of the reversible motor which controls the supply of water or any other ingredient to the stock. While there is shown and illustrated in Fig. 1 an amplifier in circuit with the photoelectric cell and relay it is to be specifically understood that if so desired this may be eliminated or any type of amplifier inserted therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. While there is shown only one embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawings it is capable of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof and 30 it is intended that only such limitations shall be imposed thereon as are indicated in the prior art or in the appended claim.

I claim:

In a consistency regulator for paper pulp stock, a tank including an inlet orifice'disposed in one side and an outlet orifice in the bottom thereof adjacent the opposite side thereof, a window in the bottom portion of said tank, a photo-electric cell disposed beneath said window, a compartment in said tank having its bottom spaced from the bottom of the tank and being provided with a window therein opposite the window in the tank, a source of light in said compartment, the upper portion of said compartment extending laterally to a point above the. outlet orifice and being spaced from the side wall thereof, and an upstanding baille adjacent the outlet orifice and extending upward beyond the bottom of the compartment.

OSCAR M. NICKERSON. 

